A Sense of Mate

Sweetcheeks!

    Delta/venom guy pulled the car into the driveway of the packhouse and turned the car engine off.  I'm a little in awe looking up at the house from the dash window.  The place is humongous.  I've been on the packhouse land dozens of times, we all have.  It's expected for the pack to gather and witness a werewolf's first shift.

`Given that ninety-five per cent of the town are wolves, the gathering always happened on the packhouse private beach to accommodate everyone.  This will be the first time I have ever actually stepped into the property.   

   The packhouse land holds the main house, the enforcer's apartment block, the specials apartment block, serv's cottage and the enforcers training field.  All of it, a stone's throw away from the private beach I mentioned earlier.  Unfortunately, tourists tend to mistake the main house as a posh hotel and are quickly turned around if they get anywhere near the drive entrance, by enforcers pretending to be gardeners.

  The main house, which although it is a large four to five-storey mansion,  is used as an office for pack business as well as a place to live.  The top floor is occupied by the Alpha, Luna and their children.  The Beta and his family, as well as the Gamma and his family, live on the second floor.  Then on the third floor Delta/venom guy and his mate, along with the Alpha and Luna's parents.  The top three-floor accommodations are well known by the pack, but as for the rest of the house, it's a mystery.

The enforcer's block is close by to the main house.  They are the pack soldiers and the protectors of the town.  Our strongest best fighters, along with our top trackers work as enforcers.  Their job is to patrol the territory, take care of any rogues that try and breakthrough, sort out any of the younger unmated males that get out of hand.  Make sure the human tourists aren't in danger when both species have had too much to drink at one of the pubs in town.  You get the idea.  Oh, and not forgetting that occasionally they are needed to step in when the werebear community in town has a disagreement.  Which makes up the remaining five per cent of our population here in Lonebay.

    The serv's cottage is where the unmated Omega's who work for the packhouse live.  Cook's, cleaners, maids etc.  There are some who are basically farmed out to live and work for rich and high-class families.    If you're lucky to find your mate then you are moved to The Edge.   I'm trying to keep my mind from thinking about that side.  After all, I should have been destined for one of those jobs once school had finished.

    Lastly, there is the specials apartment block,  I couldn't actually say how many specials our pack has, but I know they are fiercely protected by the enforcers.  Due to their unique abilities, specials are considered a prized possession in any pack.  This means they are a prime kidnap or kill target for rival packs and rogues. I guess I should really start remembering that I am now on that list.

    "Are you just gonna keep gawking, or do you plan on getting out of the car sometimes today?"  Delta/venom guy is out of the car but his head is bent down to peer at me from his door.  Unbuckling my belt, I open the door and gingerly step out.  Shutting the door behind me and straightening my top out.

    "Hu-hum" he clears his throat to get my attention and wiggles his index finger back and forth.  The universal signal for 'come over here'.

    As I get closer to him, I instinctively flinch when his hand reaches out to move my hair around my neck.  Even though I had already taken my braid out, and run my fingers through it in an attempt to straighten out the damp mess.

    "When we go in you will stay behind me" he instructs as he tries to conceal my bra strap with my top.  "Eyes down, mouth shut, ears open" he continues.  "Don't speak or move unless told to, got it?"

    I tip my head down slightly to acknowledge his orders and follow behind him as we make our way up the porch steps, and through the front door.

    The scent of wood polish hits straight away, making me wrinkle my nose at its strength.  I can see why though.  The floor of the entrance hall has been constructed with a deep dark wood, which matches the lower wall panelling and overly wide staircase.  The white pine panels lining the upper walls create an interesting contrast to the dark wood surrounding it.  I'm not given any time to admire it though, as we briskly head through a doorway to the left, and into an open-plan kitchen/dining room.

    Delta/venom guy turns round to face me, holding an open palm in front of my face.  The universal signal to stop and stay.  I put my head down, listening to his shoes thud against the wood as he walks away from me.

    "I have the Omega special Alpha" I hear him say.

    "Took your sweet time about it Ben" the Alpha's gruff voice replies.  So Delta/venom guy has a name after all.  "Ben the Bastard!" Esti sniggers.  She's not wrong mind, and I internally chuckle as well.

    "Well, let's get this s**t over with".  I heard chair legs scraping across the hardwood flooring, followed by two sets of heavy footsteps, growing closer with each step.

    "Look up Omega" the Alpha instructed.  I lifted my head up tentatively but stopped before meeting head height.  Once again I was faced with a coloured blob, a mix of grey and ice blue.  I wanted to squint badly, but had to fight against the urge. 

    "Any sign of a defence talent Ben?"

    "None that she used Alpha".

    "Any sign of an ability whatsoever?"

    "Nope".

    "Hmm.  At least she's pretty looking from the front anyway.  What do you think Ben?"

    "She's not bad looking" I heard Delta Ben remark.

    "Turn around and face the door" came another instruction. I turned as requested.

    "And nice from the back too.  She'll make someone a nice little mate, or claim when the time comes".

    They sound like they are taking inventory of merchandise.  Like meat on display at the butchers.  I'm fully clothed but I feel so naked.

    "Definitely claimable sir".  The tone Delta Ben used made my insides squirm in disgust.

    "Okay I've seen enough, turn back around".

    I wasn't so timid in my movements this time, spinning around quickly to remove my back from their view.

    "Look at me and tell me what is your name Omega?" the Alpha asks.  I meet the pack leaders brown eyes,  but there is no warmth there. 

     "Jessa sir".  The brief moment allows me to relax my sight, and focus my gaze to look past the blue-grey blob.  Alpha Andrew is about six foot tall, with broad shoulders and bronze shaggy hair.  He's wearing a pair of faded blue jeans, with a buttoned-down green checked shirt, and age-wise, he looks about thirty.

    "You don't suit your name, Jessa.  No matter, I'm sure we can come up with a new one for you, can't we Ben" the Alpha chuckled.  "Any ideas on what we should call her?" he asked, and in my periphery Delta Ben c****d his head to the side.

    "Just going off the last view we had, Sweetcheeks fits nicely" he replies, and the Alpha nods in agreement.  I squirm again.

    "Sweetcheeks it is then", he chuckles before continuing. "Do you know what the plan is for tonight Omega?" I shake my head.  "At dusk, the pack will gather on the sands for your shift.  As this is your first time I will command you to shift.  Believe me, my command is a kindness.  It will make the shift a lot easier, and slightly less painful for you, and your wolf".

    I wanted to ask about seeing my family, but quickly remembered the rules that Ben the Bastard had given me.  Instead, I bowed my head as a  sign of submission. 

  "Ben, take sweetcheeks over to Asha for a reading, get her situated in the Spec, then come back with a report".  The Delta bows a little and grips the top of my arm, giving me a slight push to move.

    "Wait a moment Ben, I'm not quite done."  Alpha Andrew steps closer to me, and I lose the focus I had.  The blob is back.  His left-hand strokes my cheek.  "If you behave, and follow your training then we will look after you Omega.  Maybe not as well as some of the others given your station though" he said matter of factly.

    "And if you don't do as you are told, well -" I heard the slap long before I felt the sharp pain in my cheek as the Alpha's palm struck the right side of my face.  It was followed up by a dull ache in my thigh, from the hardwood making contact with it, as the force of the slap knocked me down.

    The Alpha was crouched over me now.  "Do we have an understanding sweetcheeks?" he tormented.  I didn't dare answer, afraid that my voice would be too shakey to give him an obedient reply.  I fell back on the reliable response of nodding my head.  Which he patted in approval like I was a good little doggy, before standing up and walking away from me.

    Ben the Bastard yanked me up to my feet and marched me out of the house.  His grip never letting go of my arm as we walked out of the house.